My Mask, My World: Creative Reflection and Self-Expression Through Writing

The My Mask, My World session was designed as a creative and reflective activity that offered young people a relaxed and supportive space to explore thoughts, emotions, and personal coping strategies. Participants expected a calm, creative session with opportunities to reflect, share ideas, and develop practical tools to support their creativity and well-being.

The session focused strongly on writing and reflection. Youth workers observed that these moments were the most engaging and meaningful for participants, as they allowed young people to express personal thoughts and emotions in written form and reflect on their own experiences. These activities provided valuable insight into participants’ levels of self-awareness and perspectives on coping, creativity, and emotional expression.

Engagement throughout the session was mixed. Around half of the participants were actively involved, particularly during the writing and reflection elements. Other participants found it more challenging to engage, describing parts of the session as feeling similar to schoolwork. Despite this, the session was delivered as planned, with flexibility used to accommodate different engagement levels and individual needs.

Youth Worker Reflection and Learning

Youth workers reported that the session worked very well for some young people—especially those who were comfortable with creative and reflective activities—but was less effective for others. As a result, they viewed the tool as most suitable when used in a young-person–centred and needs-based way, rather than as a standard activity for all groups.

Through the session, youth workers strengthened competences related to creative knowledge, symbolic and reflective writing, positive self-talk, and supporting self-expression. They also noted improved confidence in applying new tools and methods that could be transferred into daily youth work practice.

Session Delivery and Adaptation

The session involved minimal drama and movement, as youth workers recognised that many young people struggled with confidence in theatre- or dance-based activities. Writing and reflection were prioritised to better suit participants’ comfort levels. Mentorship and support were provided to youth workers through guidance on facilitation, engagement strategies, and ongoing check-ins.

Overall, My Mask, My World demonstrated the value of reflective, creative tools for supporting self-expression and insight, while also highlighting the importance of adapting methods to match the confidence, readiness, and preferences of individual young people.